Al-Hasan Al-Basri  (may Allāh have mercy upon him) stated about the statement of Allāh:

كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ إِلَيْكَ مُبَارَكٌ لِّيَدَّبَّرُوا آيَاتِهِ وَلِيَتَذَكَّرَ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
A blessed book We have revealed to you in order that they may ponder over its verses and in order that those of understanding may reflect.” (Saad: 29)

The reflecting over its verses is nothing but following it with actions. By Allāh, it’s not the memorization of its letters and the wasting of its prescribed limits. It’s to the point that one of them says: 《By Allāh, I read the entire Qurān and I do not leave off one letter》 but he indeed has left off all of it (in practice). You don’t see in him the mannerisms of the Qurān nor the actions. It’s to the point that one of them says: 《By Allāh, indeed I read the Sūrah in one breath》By Allāh, these individuals are not (true) reciters, nor scholars, nor wise, nor people of religious piety. When have the (true) reciters ever said the likes of this?! May Allāh not increase the likes of these individuals among the Muslims!!

Source: Musannaf of Abdur-Razzaaq #5984

Translated by Abu Yusuf Khaleefah
2nd of Ramaḍān, 1428 (05-28-2017)
Masjid Nur Allah, Queens, NYC